Von Freeman on staying in Chicago

Audio Tabs

NEA JAZZ MASTER VON FREEMAN IS REGARDED AS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE “CHICAGO SCHOOL” OF TENOR SAXOPHONISTS. BORN AND BRED IN THE WINDY CITY, HE CHOSE NEVER TO LEAVE – UNLIKE MANY OF HIS CONTEMPORARIES, WHO FLOCKED TO NEW YORK CITY.

Von Freeman: A lot of my friends, they were seeking fame. And I just never have sought it I guess, I don’t know. And then too I was kind of spoiled cause when I came up NY and Chicago were about even as bein centers. Cause when I came up man Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young were in Chicago more than they were anywhere. That’s where I got all that inspiration from when I was 10, 11, 12 years old. You know, these cats were at the Regal Theater and the Savoy Theater all the time. And they would take up residence at certain clubs. But this is when Chicago had all these clubs, which ended in the late 40s, more or less. And then when Bird died, Chicago died with it.

MUSIC: punctuation

THIS JAZZ MOMENT WITH TENOR SAXOPHONIST VON FREEMAN WAS CREATED BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.